Law is a respected profession, especially in a democratic country like India, where constant legal reforms create a high demand for qualified lawyers. Pursuing law at the best law colleges in India opens the door to diverse career opportunities, including roles as a lawyer, advocate, legal consultant, or corporate counsel. With the country’s growing economy, the need for legal professionals continues to rise.
Enrolling in top law colleges in India equips students with a thorough understanding of legal concepts, preparing them for real-world applications. These colleges offer dynamic learning environments and strong career prospects, making them ideal for those pursuing a career in law.
In this article, we’ll explore the 30 best law colleges in India, selected based on comprehensive education, learning opportunities, and career outcomes. Whether you’re an undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral candidate, these institutions can help you achieve your career goals in law.
The Ministry of Education released the National Institutional Framework Ranking (NIRF) 2023 for law schools on June 5, 2023. These rankings are intended to promote quality and competitive excellence in higher educational institutions throughout India. The NIRF ranking system is widely recognized in India and is based on parameters that are grouped into various categories:
Here’s the NIRF 2023 Rankings for Top Law Colleges in India along with the types of law schools:
Rank | Name | City | State | Score | Type of Law School |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | National Law School of India University (NLSIU) | Bangalore | Karnataka | 78.00 | National Law University (NLU) |
2 | National Law University (NLU) | Delhi | Delhi | 73.96 | National Law University (NLU) |
3 | Symbiosis Law School | Pune | Maharashtra | 73.73 | Private Law School |
4 | NALSAR University of Law | Hyderabad | Telangana | 73.05 | National Law University (NLU) |
5 | The West Bengal University of Juridical Sciences | Kolkata | West Bengal | 70.72 | State University |
6 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) | Kharagpur | West Bengal | 67.27 | Technical Institution with Law |
7 | Jamia Millia Islamia | New Delhi | Delhi | 63.62 | Central University |
8 | Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) | Gandhinagar | Gujarat | 63.52 | National Law University (NLU) |
9 | Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan | Bhubaneswar | Odisha | 63.47 | Private Law School |
10 | National Law University | Jodhpur | Rajasthan | 62.35 | National Law University (NLU) |
11 | Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) | Bhubaneswar | Odisha | 61.55 | Private Law School |
12 | Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) | Aligarh | Uttar Pradesh | 60.11 | Central University |
13 | Lovely Professional University | Phagwara | Punjab | 57.57 | Private Law School |
14 | Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 55.41 | Private Law School |
15 | National Law University | Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh | 54.28 | National Law University (NLU) |
16 | Christ University | Bangalore | Karnataka | 53.56 | Private University |
17 | Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 53.23 | National Law University (NLU) |
18 | Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law | Patiala | Punjab | 52.73 | National Law University (NLU) |
19 | Shanmugha Arts Science Technology & Research Academy | Thanjavur | Tamil Nadu | 51.87 | Private University |
20 | Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | 51.66 | Central University |
21 | University of Petroleum & Energy Studies | Dehradun | Uttarakhand | 50.18 | Private University |
22 | National University of Study & Research in Law | Ranchi | Jharkhand | 49.84 | National Law University (NLU) |
23 | Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University | New Delhi | Delhi | 49.43 | State University |
24 | National Law University & Judicial Academy | Kamrup | Assam | 49.27 | National Law University (NLU) |
25 | National Law University | Cuttack | Odisha | 48.81 | National Law University (NLU) |
26 | Army Institute of Law | Mohali | Punjab | 47.68 | Military Institution |
27 | Amity University | Gurgaon | Haryana | 46.93 | Private Law School |
28 | Sikkim Government Law College | Gangtok | Sikkim | 45.92 | State Government College |
29 | Indian Law Institute | New Delhi | Delhi | 45.40 | Private Law School |
30 | Punjab University | Chandigarh | Punjab | 45.21 | State University |
These rankings and categories provide a comprehensive look at the top law schools across India, and help you understand the diversity in law education offerings.
Here is the list of the top 5 private law colleges in India, among the many new and emerging ones in our country:
Name | Courses Offered |
Symbiosis Law School, Pune | LLB, BBA LLB (Hons.), LLM, UG Diploma Courses |
ILS Law College, Pune | PG Diploma, Certificate, LLM, LLB, BA LLB |
Bharati Vidyapeeth New Law College, Pune | PG Diploma, Certificate, LLM, LLB, BA LLB, UG Diploma |
School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore | BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLM, M Phil, PhD |
Army Institute of Law, Mohali | BA LLB, LLM |
Here is a list of the top 5 government law colleges in India, which are extremely renowned and reliable to get your law career on track and running:
Name | Courses Offered |
National Law School of India University, Bangalore | BA LLB, LLM, MPP, MBL, PG Diploma |
National Law University, New Delhi | BA LLB, LLM |
NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad | LLM, BA LLB |
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata | BA LLB (Hons,), BSc. LLB, LLM, M. Phil, PhD, LLD |
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur | LLM, LLB |
In India, several prestigious law colleges offer high-quality legal education. The eligibility criteria for admission may vary from college to college. Some of the common requirements are:
To apply for (LLB), the applicant must have completed higher secondary school. Or some equivalent degree from a recognized board. The candidate must have a minimum aggregate of 45-50% marks. For LLM, candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree in law. This too should be from a recognized university. Along with this a minimum aggregate of 50-55% marks.
There is no age limit for admission to law courses.
Most of the law colleges in India require candidates to clear an entrance exam. Namely, CLAT (Common Law Admission Test), AILET (All India Law Entrance Test), LSAT (Law School Admission Test), AILET (All India Law Entrance Test examination) conducted by the National Law University, Delhi every year, DU LLB. The entrance exams are to test the candidate’s knowledge of English, Mathematics, General Knowledge, and Legal Aptitude.
Some colleges may also conduct personal interviews. This is to assess the candidate’s communication skills and overall personality.
The field of law offers a wide range of specializations for students to choose from. Some of the specializations offered by the best law colleges in India include:
This specialization deals with the legal aspects of running a business. It includes corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance.
This specialization deals with the legal aspects of protecting intellectual property. Like, patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
This specialization deals with the legal aspects of criminal activity. Especially, criminal procedure, evidence, and criminal defence.
This specialization deals with the legal aspects of the Constitution. Such as the rights and freedoms of citizens, the separation of powers, and the role of the judiciary.
This specialization deals with the legal aspects of environmental protection. Specifically, pollution control, natural resource management, and climate change.
This specialization deals with the legal aspects of protecting human rights. Particularly, civil liberties, political rights, and social and economic rights.
This specialization deals with the legal aspects of international relations. Namely, international trade, international human rights, and international dispute resolution.
This specialization deals with the legal aspects of taxation. Namely, income tax, corporate tax, and goods and services tax.
Each specialization requires a specific set of skills and knowledge. Students can choose a specialization based on their interests and career goals.
Also Read: Decoding Legal Roles: Lawyer vs Attorney
Law college entrance exams are gateways to the best law schools in India which are as follows:
Entrance Exam | Conducted By | Programs Offered | Top Colleges | Why It’s Best |
---|---|---|---|---|
CLAT | Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) | 5-year integrated BA LLB, LLM | All National Law Universities (NLUs) | Widely recognized and accepted across India |
AILET | National Law University (NLU), Delhi | BA LLB (Hons), LLM | NLU Delhi | Exclusive to NLU Delhi, one of the top law schools |
LSAT India | Law School Admission Council (LSAC) | Undergraduate and postgraduate law programs | Jindal Global Law School, UPES, and other participating institutions | Accepted by multiple top-tier law schools |
SET | Symbiosis International University | BA LLB, BBA LLB | Symbiosis Law School, Pune | Admission to Symbiosis, one of the best private law schools |
DU LLB | University of Delhi | 3-year LLB | Faculty of Law, Delhi University | Prestigious law programs at Delhi University |
BHU UET | Banaras Hindu University | 5-year integrated BA LLB | Faculty of Law, BHU | Admission to one of India’s most respected universities |
MH CET Law | State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra | 5-year integrated LLB, 3-year LLB | Various law colleges in Maharashtra | Major state-level law exam for top law colleges in Maharashtra |
AP LAWCET | Andhra University | 5-year integrated LLB, 3-year LLB | Law colleges in Andhra Pradesh | Primary law exam for law colleges in Andhra Pradesh |
Students can assess the Return on Investment (ROI) to gauge the value of a particular course. ROI offers a clear view of the benefits of enrolling in a course by emphasizing the potential returns. When it comes to popular programs, evaluating the ROI while choosing a college or university can be extremely helpful, especially when deciding among several institutions. Below is a table featuring the top Law colleges in India, along with their average annual fees and typical placement packages:
College Name | Total Tuition Fee | Average Salary Package |
---|---|---|
NUJS Kolkata | INR 3.66 lakh | INR 20 LPA |
NALSAR University of Law | INR 7.75 lakh | INR 16 LPA |
NLIU Bhopal | INR 7.30 lakh | INR 16 LPA |
NLSIU Bangalore | INR 13.45 lakh | INR 16 LPA |
GNLU Gandhinagar | INR 6 lakh | INR 16 LPA |
These figures reflect a general overview of tuition fees and salary packages, but it’s important to verify current details directly from the respective law schools as these numbers may fluctuate slightly over time.
The best law colleges in India attract top recruiters from various sectors. Namely, law firms, corporate houses, government organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
Some of the top recruiters for law graduates from the best law schools in India include:
Top law firms recruit law graduates from the best law colleges in India. Like:
A few of the leading companies recruit law graduates. It includes:
Various government organizations recruit law graduates from the best law colleges. Namely:
Law graduates from the best law colleges in India can also opt for a career in the judiciary. They can appear for the judicial services examination. Such exams are conducted by various state public service commissions.
NGOs such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Greenpeace recruit law graduates from the best law colleges in India.
The best law colleges in India have a strong alumni network. This can help students secure placements with top recruiters. These colleges also provide career counselling and placement support. All this can help students achieve their career goals.
When evaluating the top law colleges in India, important factors include the quality of faculty, campus facilities, placement success, and overall prestige. Notable institutions include NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Delhi, and NALSAR Hyderabad, as well as private universities like Jindal Global Law School. Prospective students typically need to take entrance exams such as the CLAT and LSAT-India to secure admission to their preferred law schools. Ultimately, choosing the right college should align with one’s career goals, ensuring a solid foundation for a successful legal career. Furthermore, aspects like an alumni network, international partnerships, curriculum design, moot court experience, and collaborations with industry are also essential considerations.
Evaluate numerous career choices to choose the right career path for yourself. Dive into our guide on Career Advice.
Ans. Some of the colleges that admit students through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) are:
1. National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore.
2. National Law University (NLU), Delhi.
Ans. Several top law colleges in India offer a 3-year LLB program. Some of the best law colleges in India are:
1. National Law School of India University, Bangalore.
2. Faculty of Law, Delhi University, Delhi.
3. NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
4. Indian Law Society’s Law College, Pune.
Ans. The entrance varies depending on the college and the program. Here are some of the most common entrance tests:
1. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test).
2. AILET (All India Law Entrance Test).
3. LSAT (Law School Admission Test).
4. SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test).
5. Christ University Law Entrance Test.
6. BHU UET (Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test).
Ans. Getting admission to a top (NLU) in India is highly competitive. It requires a combination of academic excellence and performance in entrance exams. You mainly need to take the exam and do well. Along with this you also need to prepare for the interview. Also remember to focus on academic excellence, and to get involved in extracurricular activities.
Ans. India has several state universities that offer excellent law programs. Here are some of the best state universities for law in India:
1. National Law University, Delhi.
2. West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences.
3. National Law University, Jodhpur.
4. Gujarat National Law University.
5. Hidayatullah National Law University, among others.
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